Page Turner: Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Eighteen Moons [Goodreads]Where to begin with this one? I got to reading the first two books last year and because I didn't have to wait long between book 1 and book 2, it was a pretty long wait for book 3. But it's finally here and though I couldn't wait for the physical book to come to me, I failed the marshmallow test on this one and read it anyway. After a day or so of dropping everything to read (those weekdays were painful), I'm glad I got through it, but also sad that it's done (for now).
I came into this reading Tina's review on Nose in a Book so I came in with a different mindset, but apparently, I wasn't prepared enough. Needless to say, I need book 4 right now please.
Let's start off with the very dooms-day-ish plot over at Goodreads to really set the tone of this book. Because even if you don't remember half of what happened in book 2, you can pretty much forget any hopes of happier times, because it isn't happening in this book. In fact, save for a few (VERY FEW) light moments, it's all dark, dark, dark from hereon out.Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?
For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending. [Goodreads]
The story picks up from where it left off in Book 2, with Lena claiming herself as both Light and Dark and Ethan being all 'good' that things are back to normal -- or so they think. Basically, anything they did in the previous book is now reaping the consequences here and they're all paying very dearly.
Let's just say we shouldn't get too attached to anyone in this story just because the authors have no qualms about hacking people off. From start to end, people start dropping (whether dead or disappearing) and it's a little disconcerting seeing everyone just leave like that just because I feel like there could be so many loopholes.
Ethan is slowly losing his mind this time around and though Lena's next to him throughout all of this, there isn't anything their love can do to save themselves other than to really just enjoy the present. Of course, Ethan still hears that song, "Eighteen Moons" this time and it's uncanny to me, how many songs about his future his mom can rhyme together.
Other than the two leads, everyone else is back too. Link and Ridley are pretty much still loving and hating each other. I love how Link's probably gotten the best end of the stick -- with his Linkubus powers and still retaining somewhat a sense of normalcy -- at least as normal as he can be. And Ridley, all things considered is still herself, though I wish we'd gotten to see more of her (no, it's not what you think).
Marian and Macon are still around too and though both have to adjust significantly to the things they've got to pay for, I'm still holding out for these two to hook up. I know it's all wrong, what with Marian being friends with Ethan's Mom and Macon and Ethan's Mom having a thing, I still feel like they both still deserve some sort of happiness and if they can't find it elsewhere, why not with each other.
And though Liv is the ultimate Anna (From the O.C. -- you know you were on team Summer but felt bad for Anna?), I'm glad to see some of her here and still am hoping for more of her in the future. I can't imagine all the crap everyone's feeling after their little sojourn to the Great Barrier but it's nice to see how everyone handles the aftermath.
Though apparently, not everyone's doing so great with it. You'd think Amma would handle things better but it seems she's off the handle, trying to keep Ethan straight and dealing with the Sisters, who I finally get to appreciate more.
Of course, we get some of Sarafine too and it's surprising how much I actually feel for her in this one. I don't want to give too much away but it's pretty crazy how you can loathe her in one book and not hate her as much in this one -- at least for me. I could be a sucker after all.
Nevertheless, it was a pretty emotional 48+ hours for me. I guess I'll need the years' wait to get over this funk, but I seriously hope for a happier conclusion/continuation because I need me a happily ever after, I don't care what anyone else says.
Even More Page Turner:
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin